Among some enterprising Maidstone masons thoughts of forming a new Lodge began way back in 1946 and, later, these thoughts coming to fruition, a petition was supported by Robinson Lodge No. 2046 and signed on 15th October 1947. They became known as “our Mother Lodge”, and the Garden of England Lodge became the eighth Maidstone Lodge to be consecrated at Freemasons Hall, Gt. Queen Street, London. Only a short delay occurred, however, when United Grand Lodge didn’t accept the first draft of the emblem and returned it for alteration. There doesn’t appear to be a record of what might have been wrong with it but a new draft was accepted without further alteration required.

The founding membership, listed below, totalled 17 mainly from Robinson Lodge, and one from a London Lodge and one from a Surbiton Lodge. There were three other members who are referred to as Co-Founders but, technically, having not served three years as a Master Mason, as required by the Book of Constitutions, they couldn’t be called Founders. All were local Masons in that they either owned shops, or worked in shops, or worked in offices of businesses in, or lived in, the Maidstone area. It is thus believed the meeting day for the Lodge, a Wednesday, came about as Wednesdays were traditionally a half day closing day for many shops in the town. Members were tailors, commercial travellers, tobacconist, butchers, grocers, and solicitors, to give a few examples.

The founders; Worshipful Brethren Oscar Howard, James Birchall, William Hubble, Harold Saltmarsh, Henry Pierce, Frederick Farmer, Tom Hendley, and Brothers Leonard Faulkner, Walter Foulger, Edgar Burr, Herbert Bing, William Stitt, Aidan Minett, and Edward Morling. The three Co-Founder members are Brothers Stanley Blake, Tom Wheeler and Jimmy Brichall.  Nonetheless, they all worked extremely hard and energetically together in bringing the lodge into existence.

Then next, before consecration,  Nelsons ” the Pram shop”, in Lower Stone Street, Maidstone, which 1st floor store room became invaded once a week and rearranged to accommodate Lodge of Instruction. There were make shift gavels and columns and the new Lodge being formed was nick named the “Pram Lodge”. The brethren were all keen to become proficient in the ritual workings well before consecration.

The name was very important. The Founders were firm in their choice – the Garden of England  lodge, which, to them,  epitomised the return to peace and tranquillity of the battered and beautiful countryside of the county of Kent, (the Garden of England), following the brutal war years.

The Consecration took place at Freemasons’ Hall, London, on 31st March 1948, by special dispensation given by the Most Worshipful Grand Master the Duke of Devonshire, with 13 Grand Officers assisting in the ceremony, and with the Kent Provincial Grand Offices and more than 100 brethren in attendance, at 3.00 pm the birth Ceremony of Garden of England Lodge 6583 was taking place. The Founding Master, W. Bro Oscar Howard, of military background, with walrus moustache, breathed life into the new Lodge  with his ritual piece, and the Lodge was born.

All the Founders occupied Offices in the Lodge, whose home was at Bower Terrace, Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, and Mr. John Archibald Saxby Hitch became the first initiate in December 1948. W. Bro Frank Cooper became the first Joining member in March 1949 and celebrated his 60 years a Mason in the Lodge.  Founder W. Bro Bill Stitt was known to be a “big” man and brilliant with ritual. Also, W. Bro Freddie Farmer, the Treasurer, who could perform any Office asked of him, and deliver speeches with great eloquence without notice. There are many distinguished members who should be mentioned but the list would become too involved. One, however, ought to be given a mention – Worshipful Brother Maurice Davis, Secretary. He brought in “typed” minutes.

Note; this history outline has been extracted from the combined works of W. Bro R. Spiller and W. Bro J. Wheeler who both wrote about  the Garden of England Lodge. The Secretary will be happy to receive  corrections and new information .